Window shade supporting structure



p 1935- c. H. HUCKE 2,052,82fi WINDOW SHADE SUPPORTING STRUC'IURE I Filed March 16, 1935 :s Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTOE-HEV Sept. 1, 193%. c; HUCKE 2,052,828

WINDOW SHADE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed March 16, 1935 3 SheetsSheet 2 E v j goj I 17 I [v T E I [Mos/7115a 6. H. flue/ne- A'rraz/yEv WINDOW SHADE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed March 16, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 J'z'g. a 1 19.9

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AfTO/ NEY Patented Sept. 1, 1936 2,052,828 WINDOW SHADE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Charles H. Hncke, St. Louis, M0. Application March 16, 1935, Serial No. 11,452 12 Claims. (c1. 156-27) ture in the usual manner at the inside of the window frame, said stops and the parting strips E cooperating with parts of the window frame in a manner to provide guideways in which the lower sash D is adapted to move. 5 Interposed between the rear faces of the strips F at opposite sides of the relates generally shade supporting structures, and more specifically of a windowso as to position the roll of the window shade atdifferent levels relative to the window, the predominant object of the invention being to provide a structure of the type mentioned which, while of very simple construction and arrangernent, will efiiciently perform its intended function. 1

supporting den, N Fig-2 is an enlarged view, partly in horizontal section and partly in plan, illustrating the upper portion-of the improved shade-supporting means.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but on a slightly said metal is then bent upon itself means which would be otherwise hid- I to provide the guldeway proper.

7 lower portion shade-supporting means.

Fig. 4 'isa fragmentary sectional detail illustrating a part of the upper portion of the improved shade-supporting means.

Fig. 5 is asection on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

' Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail illustrating a slightly different type of shade-supporting bracket associated with the improved shade-supporting structure.

. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but illustrating a different type of shade-supporting bracket associatedwith the improved shade-supporting means. --Fig. 8.is a fragmentary front elevation of a window structure showing a modified form of the inthrough the material of vention associated therewith. of the recess 6. The element 4 is provided with a Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the structure illustrated. in Fig.8.

fragmentary sectional detail illustrating inhorizontal section a portion of the structure illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

In the drawings, wherein are shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, several embodiments of the element 4 by screwing the screw 9 inwardly I e 7 well known construction, said window structure including a window frame B, an upper sash C, and a'lower sash D. The sashes C and D are arranged for vertical movement in the usual manner, and to this end the window structure includes parting strips 2 1S a cross member in which preferably is in the E and stops F. The stops F are in the form of form of a'tube I strips which extend vertically of the window strucmeans S are ecured to or formed integrally with the elements 4 and 5, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2.

' ing fingers l5, said portions Fig. 5, and the 2 rods l2, these rods in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 being bent rearwardly and then outwardly, where they are attached to the side members 2 of the shade-supporting means. The inner ends of the rods l2 are spaced apart, and between said inner ends of said rods an expansible and contractible coil spring I3 is arranged. The coil spring 53 tends to force the rods I2 outwardly in a manner to move the inner faces of the side members 2 into close contact with the faces at thebases of the guideways l. vThe rods B2 are provided with upwardly projected extensions M which are provided with upstand- M being arranged in slots l6 formed at the opposite ends of the tube H. The slots I6 are open at the ends of the tube M, and by arranging the portions Moi the rods E2 in said slots the slots provide guideways for said portions M when the rods are moved toward and from each other.

The elements 4 and 5 which provide the upper cross member 3 of the shade-supporting structure S are provided adjacent to their outer ends with pairs of straps l1. These straps are formed by slitting the material of the elements 4 and 5 and pressing material located between said slits outwardly to provide embracing portions shaped as shown in Fig. 5. The pairs of straps l1 at the opposite ends or the cross member 3 receive shade-supporting brackets [8, each of these brackets comprising a leg IB which is arranged in contact with the front face of the associated element of the cross member 3, and an angular leg lS which extends outwardly from the outer end of said leg 18. The legs I8 of the brackets l8 are embraced by the straps H, as shown in legs l8 are provided with suitable openings [8 which support the window shade W. The innermost ends of the leg portionslti of the brackets l8 are bent in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, so that said bent portions embrace the innermost straps l1. Because of this arrangement the brackets l8 are prevented from moving outwardly beyond their proper positions with relation to the cross member 3, and the presence of brackets I8, of course, prevents inward movement of said brackets relative to said cross member.'

i In the use of the improved window shade sup porting means disclosed herein, when it is desired to raise or lower the shade bodily relative to the associated window structure so as to move the roll of the shade vertically with respect to the window structure, the fingers P5 are grasped and moved inwardly a slight distance. This has the, effect of imparting like movement to the rods l2, thus contracting the coil spring I3 and relieving the frictional grip between the inner end faces of the side members 2 and the faces at the bases of the guideways l in which said side members operate. The shade-supporting means may then be moved vertically relatively to the window to the desired position, when the fingers are released to permit the coil spring 13 to expand and move-the rods l2 outwardly, whereupon the inner faces of the side members 2 will be forced into close frictional contact with the faces at the bases of the guideways I so as to retain the shade-supporting means in the positionto which it has been adjusted.

-Because of the telescopic arrangement of the elements 2 and 5 of the upper cross member 3, and because of the presence of the coil spring l3 between the inner ends of the rods l2, the shadesupporting means S is fully capable of being adjusted for use with windows of different widths. In other words, by unscrewing the screw 9 slightly the elements 4 and 5 of the cross member 3 may be adjusted with respect to each other to provide a wider or narrower shade-supporting structure. The coil spring 13 provides for like inward movement of the side members 2 at the lower portion of the shade-supporting structure. The brackets [8 also are ad ustable so as to provide for the reception of shade rolls of different lengths. This adjustment may be accomplished originally when the shade-supporting structure is placed in use. By having the legs it of the bracket extended inwardly at their inner ends, as indicated by dotted, lines in Fig. 4, so .as to properly position the brackets, the inner end-portions of the legs l8 may then be bent to form the hook-like portions at the inner ends thereof which prevent outward movement of the brackets.

In Figs. 6 and '7 I illustrate forms of the invention which are slightly different from the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5. In Figs. 1 to 5 the shade is of such width that it is located between the stops F of the window structure, while in Figs. 6 and '7 wider shades are employed. 7

In Fig. 6 the bracket 18 is provided with an outwardly extended leg portion l8 that includes a double bend; that is to say, the leg portion'lti of the bracket la is bent around the outer portion of the stop F so that a shade may be supported which is wider than the space between the stops. In Fig. 7 a bracket I8 is illustrated which is provided with a leg portion 18 which extends laterally beyond the window opening in the frame of the window structure. By employing brackets such as that illustrated in Fig. '7 a shade of greater width than the window openframe may be employed.

a form of the invention which involves the use of weights for counterbalancing the shade-supporting structure S. In this form of the invention the window frame at its opposite sides is provided with housings is for counterbalancing weights 2|. The housings 2!] extend from the sill of the window structure to the upper portion thereof, and the weights 2i are attached to suitable cords 22 which pass over pulleys 23 suitably supported in the upper portions of the housings 20. The ends of the cords 22 opposite to the ends thereof to which the weights 2| are attached are connected to extensions 24 projected from the upper cross member 3, and as a result of this arrangement the weights will counterbalance the sashsupporting structure and permit free movement of same vertically of the window structure. The

counterbalancing arrangement illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10 is intended for use particularly with shade-supporting structures associated with unusually wide windows where the weight of such shade-supporting structures may" render free movement of the shade-supporting structures slightly inconvenient.

I claim 2' 1. An adjustable shade-supporting structure comprising guideways adapted for fixed support by a window structure, a shade support guided for movement by said guideways, said shade support being comprised of top, bottom, and rigid side members producing a rectangular frame structurathe rigid side members of which move iii 2. An adjustable shade-supporting structure comprising guideways adapted for fixed support port being comprised of side members producing a rectangular frame sociated with said shade supporting a window shade, said shade support al engagement and permit the be moved to adjusted positions.

5. An adjustable shade-supporting structure comprising guideways adapted for fixed support er member connecting the lower end portions of said side members, said lower member being arranged for expansion whereby said side members ways so as to maintain the sitions to which porting a window shade, said shade support ineluding side members movably disposed in said guideways, and a lower member connecting the lower end portions of said side members, said lower member including elements fixed to the side shade support may be maintained in positions to support.

7. An adjustable shade-supporting structure comprising guideways adapted for fixed support by a window structure, a shade away from each other so as to cause the side members to frictionally engage the guideways whereby the shade support may be maintained in positions to which it has been adjusted, and means for moving said elere action of the ciated with said shade support for operably supporting a window shade, said shade support including side members movably disposed in said an upper, longitudinally adjustable member connecting the upper end portions of said side members, said lower member being expansible whereby said may frictionally engage the guideshade support in poadjusted, and being contractible to relieve such frictional engagement 9. An adjustable shade-supporting structure comprising guideways adapted for fixed support by a window structure, a

supporting a window shade in said guideways, an upper, longitudinally adjustable member connecting the upper end portions of said side members, and a lower member end portions of said side members, said lower member including elements fixed to the side 10. An adjustable shade-supporting structure comprising guideways adapted for fixed support a shade support guided for movement by said guideways, and means adsaid shade support for operably supporting a window shade, said shade support including side members movably disposed in said guideways, and a lower member connecting the lower end portions of said side members, said lower member being expansible whereby said side members may frictionally engage the guide ways so as to maintain the shade support in positions to which it has been adjusted, and being contractible to relieve such frictional engagement and permit the shade support to be moved to adjusted positions.

11. An adjustable shade-supporting structure comprising guideways adapted for fixed support by a window structure, a shade support guided for movement by said guideways, means associated with said shade support for operably supporting a window shade, said shade support including side members movably disposed in said guideways, and a lower member connecting the lower end portions of said side members, said lower member being expansible whereby said side members may frictionally engage the guideways so as to maintain the-shade support in positions to' which it has been adjusted, andbeing contractible torelieve such frictional engagement and permit the shade support to be moved to adjusted positions, and means for counterbalancing said shade support.

12."An adjustable shade supporting structure comprising guideways adapted for fixed support by a window structure, a shade support guided for movement by said guideways, and means associated with said shade support for operably supporting a window shade, said shade support including a top member, rigid side members movably disposed in said guideways, and a lower member connecting the lower end portions of said side members, said lower member being arranged for expansion whereby said shade support may be caused to engage the guideways so as to maintain the shade support in positions to which it has been adjusted, and being contractible to release such engagement and permit the shade support 20 to be moved to adjusted positions.

CHARLES H. HUCKE. 

